Google launches voice search for Maps

Google is testing a new voice search service for its mobile Maps application, starting with the US Blackberry Pearl 8110/20/30. The service seems very similar to Microsoft's Live Search application, a program we're a big fan of due in no small part to its speech recognition services. To use Google's new features, Pearl owners need to point their browsers to google.com/gmm in order to download the latest version. Once installed, "using voice search is as simple as 1, 2, 3:

1. Press "0" to center the map view around your location
2. Press the left-side key and hold it while you say the name or type of business you're looking for (for example, "pizza")
3. When you're done speaking, release the left-side key, and our voice recognition technology will figure out your request and find the business you've been looking for, no typing needed."